Ice Removal

When the ice has reached the desired thickness or size, it's time for the ice to be removed from the evaporator. This is known as the ice - removal or defrost cycle.

One common method of ice removal is the heat - based method. In this method, the flow of refrigerant is redirected. Instead of the cold refrigerant flowing through the evaporator, warm refrigerant gas is sent to the evaporator. This warm gas heats up the evaporator surface slightly. The heat from the evaporator melts a thin layer of ice at the interface between the ice and the evaporator. This melted layer of water creates a lubricating film, allowing the ice to slide off the evaporator surface easily. The ice then falls into a storage bin located below the evaporator.

In some ice - maker models, especially in commercial applications, mechanical methods may also be used in combination with heat - based methods. For example, a small motor - driven scraper or a vibrating mechanism may be used to gently dislodge the ice from the evaporator after the heat - based defrost process has started to loosen the ice. This ensures that the ice is removed completely and efficiently.